Speakers

Master of Ceremonies

Mr Piers Cross

World Vision Australia is pleased to announce that Piers Cross is assisting with the development of the conference program. Piers will also act as Master of Ceremonies at the conference.

Piers Cross, a South African, has 30 years of experience in water and sanitation, specifically on extending services to the poor. An anthropologist by training, he is a renowned speaker and spokesperson for the water and sanitation sector, having worked for many of the world’s leading water institutions.

He has been associated with the World Bank Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) for over 20 years, working as Global Manager and Regional Leader in Asia and Africa, helping it to become a premier knowledge exchange agency.

Under his leadership, WSP focused on developing a global program to assist countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals. He has instigated over 50 publications, most recently including: “Getting Africa on Track to Meet the MDGs on Water and Sanitation” and “Tackling Corruption in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Africa”. He initiated the regional SAN meetings, which have grown to be a main vehicle for regional debate on sanitation.

In the 1990s, he was the founding CEO of the Mvula Trust which, in the Mandela years, helped South Africa rapidly scale up rural water and sanitation delivery. He chaired the Rural Water Supply Network, and founded the Water Integrity Network.

Now retired from management, Piers works as a consultant.

Key Speakers include

Rev Tim Costello

Tim Costello is Chief Executive of World Vision Australia, Australia’s largest overseas aid organisation. In this role Tim has established a strong public presence in the fight against global poverty and its causes. Prior to this Tim has long been recognised for articulating the social conscience for Australians having led many debates on tough international and domestic issues, including gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and human rights.

After studying law and education at Monash University and obtaining his Masters in Theology at the Melbourne College of Divinity, Tim was ordained a Baptist Minister in 1986.

From 1987–1994, Tim was Minister at St Kilda Baptist Church and through 1993-94 also served as Mayor of the City of St Kilda. From 1995 –2004, Tim was Minister of Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit organisation.

Tim was named Victorian of the Year 2004, in June 2005 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). In 2006, he was named Victorian Australian of the Year.

Mr Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance

In 1975, Bob became Secretary of the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labour Party (ALP). In August 1981, he was elected National Secretary and moved with his family to Canberra. During his time as National Secretary, Bob directed the ALP’s successful election campaigns in 1983, 1984 and 1987.

In February 1988, following the resignation of Senator Susan Ryan, Bob was sworn in as Senator for the Australian Capital Territory. In 1990, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer and in 1991 became Manager of Government Business in the Senate.

In 1993, Bob was appointed Minister for the Arts and Administrative Services and became a member of the Cabinet, the first time the Arts portfolio was represented in Cabinet. In January 1994, he was appointed Minister for Trade.

Following a redistribution of Canberra’s House of Representative seats, Bob stood for the seat of Canberra in 1996, and was elected. Following a redistribution in 1998, Bob became Member for Fraser.

Between 1996 and 2007, Bob held a number of Shadow Ministerial positions including Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Finance & Small Business and Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations. After the election of the Rudd Government in November 2007, Bob was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance.